Long wait at the border.

[Deniz1]

Another very long line of greek cars waiting to cross over yesterday morning. i am all for saving money but surely they are harming their own economy by buying petrol here?. What a lovely way to spend a hot sunday waiting for over an hour with the car running and the air con on doesnt make sense!

[MoonageDaydream]

It DOES make sense when you look at the exchange rates....especially if those queuing are buying things from supermarkets in the north as well as filling up with petrol or diesel!

[Keithcaley]

Another very long line of greek cars waiting to cross over yesterday morning. i am all for saving money but surely they are harming their own economy by buying petrol here?. What a lovely way to spend a hot sunday waiting for over an hour with the car running and the air con on doesnt make sense!

I don't think that the majority would worry about 'Harming their own (Country's) economy' if they could save a few bob on filling the car up, frankly...

As the price of Fuel in TRNC is capped by the Government (as a 'Social' measure to protect the lower paid - or so I understand) it means that those coming across to buy cheap petrol are being subsidised by the TRNC Government, and are thus indirectly harming the TRNC Economy.

It is a hidden form of smuggling cheap petrol across the Green Line, and could be reduced by limiting the purchase of fuel for ROC-registered vehicles to, say 5 Ltrs at a time. That may not be a practical provision to implement, of course, and the TRNC Government may well take the view that they would rather have the Foreign Currency flowing into the Country's Cash Registers...

Someo e who knows more about Finance might be able to give a more informed view

[EnjoyingTheSun]

It is a hidden form of smuggling cheap petrol across the Green Line, and could be reduced by limiting the purchase of fuel for ROC-registered vehicles to, say 5 Ltrs at a time. That may not be a practical provision to implement, of course, and the TRNC Government may well take the view that they would rather have the Foreign Currency flowing into the Country's Cash Registers...

I'm sure any foreign currency flowing in is well received but not if you are subsidising it.
If you are getting 1000 customers in and losing £10 on each one, getting more customers in isn't going to solve your problems.

[erol]

They could just charge a 40% surcharge to any non TRNC plated vehicles ?

[Keithcaley]

They could just charge a 40% surcharge to any non TRNC plated vehicles ?

Yes that would be simpler, it would make the petrol station operators happy as well!

Oh no, it wouldn't, because GCs would no longer be buying...

[13roman58]

And how easy is it to get a set of number plates for TRNC!

[erol]

They could just charge a 40% surcharge to any non TRNC plated vehicles ?

Yes that would be simpler, it would make the petrol station operators happy as well!

Oh no, it wouldn't, because GCs would no longer be buying...

If fuel is say 60% cheaper then set the surcharge at 35%, and put the 35% extra from non TRNC plated cars directly into the 'stabilisation' fund that is used to keep the base price low. Those with non TRNC plated cars still get cheaper fuel, just not as cheap, and they also help the subsidies for TRNC plated cars ?

And how easy is it to get a set of number plates for TRNC!

Putting false plates on a car is a serious criminal offence I would imagine ?

[Mowgli597]

Just put a sticky patch over the first letter of the GC number plate. Then it looks like a TC car.

Well it obviously works for taxis going from North to South - nobody down there realises they’re in disguise

[Keithcaley]

Just put a sticky patch over the first letter of the GC number plate. Then it looks like a TC car.

Well it obviously works for taxis going from North to South - nobody down there realises they’re in disguise

I'll assume your comment was intended as ironic humour, but just in case anyone doesn't know the reason that Taxis from both sides cover the 'T' when on 'foreign territory', it is because they are not allowed to 'Ply for Hire' away from Home, by mutual agreement between the sides - just one of the many anomalous pragmatic day-to-day accommodations that allow this insane situation to actually function

[kibsolar1999]

always interesting to see in how many ways govs are forced to subsidy (or quit any profits (tax) ) on fossil energy sources.

and therefore no money is left for the RE section...

i believe that the calculation for petrol at the moment is: buying price plus distribution plus 10% vat. (nearly) no taxing.

net, they do not do a "minus" and a higher turn over may compensate some of the lesser profits.
(btw, it is illegal for roc residents to fill their cars in the trnc. roc law)

[Mowgli597]

Just put a sticky patch over the first letter of the GC number plate. Then it looks like a TC car.

Well it obviously works for taxis going from North to South - nobody down there realises they’re in disguise

I'll assume your comment was intended as ironic humour, but just in case anyone doesn't know the reason that Taxis from both sides cover the 'T' when on 'foreign territory', it is because they are not allowed to 'Ply for Hire' away from Home, by mutual agreement between the sides - just one of the many anomalous pragmatic day-to-day accommodations that allow this insane situation to actually function

Every day is a school day! And there’s me thinking it was the removal of the give-away “Taxi” sign on the roof which hid the fact that it wasn’t available for hire.

So all I need to do is look for vehicle with number plates beginning with “T” and I can be sure it’s a taxi (even if it’s disguised as a humongous truck).

Damn clever dickies these chaps

[Keithcaley]

Glad to have been of assistance...